Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFTAZA4’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFTAZA4’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; large and dense decorative-type inflorescences with quilled ray florets that are purplish red in color with greenish yellow-colored apices; resistance to  Fusarium ; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFTAZA4’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Jul. 30, 2020, application number 2020/1818. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

A Japanese Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Aug. 31, 2020, application number 34906. Foreign priorityis not claimed to this application.

A Taiwanese Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Dec. 25, 2020, application number 1090171. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium,typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘DLFTAZA4’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plantswith numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plantmutation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘DLFTAZA10’, not patented. Thenew Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘DLFTAZA10’ in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in June,2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since June, 2018 in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLFTAZA4’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLFTAZA4’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform flowering habit.    -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.    -   5. Large and dense decorative-type inflorescences with quilled        ray florets that are purplish red in color with greenish        yellow-colored apices.    -   6. Resistant to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum).    -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of themutation parent, ‘DLFTAZA10’, in ray floret color as ray florets ofplants of the new Chrysanthemum are purplish red in color with greenishyellow-colored apices whereas ray florets of plants of ‘DLFTAZA10’ arewhite in color with red purple-colored apices.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Deliarsenal’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of ‘Deliarsenal’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have tubular quilled ray        florets whereas plants of ‘Deliarsenal’ have flattened quilled        ray florets.    -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are purplish        red in color with greenish yellow-colored apices whereas ray        florets of plants of ‘Deliarsenal’ are purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFTAZA4’ grown as adisbud-type cut flower.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view ofupper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences (topof figure) and typical leaves (bottom of figure) of ‘DLFTAZA4’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the autumn in ground beds in aglass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plantswere initially given long day/short night treatments followed by shortday/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and lightlevels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem disbud-typeplants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFTAZA4’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum    x morifolium ‘DLFTAZA10’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut            flower that is typically grown as a single stem disbud-type;            upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth            rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 64.9            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence            plane.—About 69.9 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 19 cm.        -   Flowering stem length.—About 62.5 cm.        -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.6 cm.        -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.        -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.        -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;            slightly glossy.        -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 138A.        -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146A and 148A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 9.9 cm. Width: About 6.4 cm. Shape, in overall            outline: Obovate to oblong. Apex: Abruptly acute, minute.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely crenate            to dentate to serrate to dentate; sinuses convergent to            divergent and shallow to medium in depth. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not rugose;            moderately velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,            lower surface: Densely pubescent, prominent venation;            slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Venation pattern:            Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to between 138A and 147B. Fully developed leaves,            upper surface: Slightly darker than 147A; venation, close to            146B to 146C. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 146C. Petioles: Length: About            1.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster, upper surface: Densely            pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, upper            surface: Close to 146B; edges, close to NN137A to NN137B.            Color, lower surface: Close to 14B; edges, close to 147B.            Stipules: Quantity, appearance and arrangement: Two leafy            stipules, opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem.            Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape, in overall            outline: Roughly reniform with emarginate apices. Texture            and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent; slightly            glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely            pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Slightly            darker than 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Large and dense decorative-type inflorescence            form with quilled-shaped ray florets and tubular disc            florets; inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and            face mostly upright; ray and disc florets develop            acropetally on a capitulum; typically grown as a            disbud-type, but can also be grown as a spray-type.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and            short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long            day/short night conditions after planting followed by            photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about            56 days later when grown as a disbud-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;            after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain            good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior            environment; inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a            disbud-type, however, when grown as a spray-type, about 31            inflorescences develop per flowering stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a disbud-type: About            15.6 cm. Depth (height), grown as a disbud-type: About            6.8 cm. Disc diameter, grown as a disbud-type: About 2 mm to            4 mm; inconspicuous. Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About            10.1 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 3 cm.            Disc diameter, grown as a spray-type: About 2 mm to 4 mm;            inconspicuous.        -   Receptacles.—Height, grown as a disbud-type: About 2.1 cm.            Diameter, grown as a disbud-type: About 8 mm. Height, grown            as a spray-type: About 1 cm. Diameter, grown as a            spray-type: About 5 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color:            Close to 145B and 146A.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About            1.4 cm. Shape: Flattened spherical. Texture and luster:            Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, moderately            pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Developing involucral            bracts, close to 137A and 138C to 138D; developing ray            florets, close to 1C slightly tinged with close to 37B.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 2,000 arranged            in about 22 whorls. Length, when grown as a disbud-type:            About 5.1 cm; varying between 0.5 cm and 8.7 cm. Width, when            grown as a disbud-type: About 4 mm; varying between 1 mm and            7 mm. Length, when grown as a spray-type: About 2.9 cm;            varying between 0.4 cm and 5 cm. Width, when grown as a            spray-type: About 2.5 mm; varying between 1 mm and 4.5 mm.            Shape: Quilled; apices incurved. Apex: Shallowly praemorse.            Base: Fused. Aspect: About 35° from vertical. Texture and            luster, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;            matte. Texture and luster, outer surface: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Color: When opening, inner surface: Close            to 1C and towards the apices, close to 145D; with            development, color becoming closer to 11C. When opening,            outer surface: Close to 164C and towards the base, close to            153D; with development, color becoming closer to 176A and            towards the base, close to 151C to 151D. Fully opened, inner            surface: Close to 11D densely covered with fine dots, close            to 185C and 185D; towards the apex, close to 145D and            towards the base, close to 1C; venation, similar to lamina            colors; colors do not change with subsequent development.            Fully opened, outer surface: Close to 181C and 184C; towards            the apex, close to 151C; with development, color becoming            closer to 184D and 185C and towards the apex, close to 151B;            venation, similar to lamina colors; colors do not change            with subsequent development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 5 to 20 massed            randomly at the center of the receptacle. Length: About            5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 80% fused into a            tube; upper 20% free. Apex: Acute. Margin, free-part:            Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and            outer surfaces: Apex: Close to N144A. Mid-section: Close to            11C. Base: Close to 145C. Color, fully opened, inner and            outer surfaces: Apex: Close to N144A. Mid-section: Close to            11C. Base: Close to 145C.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 44            arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width:            About 3.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Narrowly obtuse.            Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:            Close to 138A; towards the apex, close to NN137A; lateral            margins, translucent and close to 157C to 157D and apical            margins tinged with close to N199A. Color, lower surface:            Close to NN137A; lateral margins, translucent and close to            157C to 157D and apical margins tinged with close to N199A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.1 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 6 mm. Length, third            peduncle: About 6.7 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About            3.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle:            Upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 45° from the            flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;            moderately glossy. Color: Close to 143A and N148D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:            About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:            About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color:            Close to 13A. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium:            Present on both ray and disc florets. Quantity: One per            floret. Pistil length: About 8.5 mm. Style length: About            7 mm. Style color: Close to N144B. Stigma diameter: About            3 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft to three-parted, decurrent. Stigma            color: Close to 12B. Ovary color: Close to 157A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    been observed to be resistant to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum). To    date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be    resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum    plants grown under commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘DLFTAZA4’ as illustrated and described.